Category Archives: Health Promoting School

We would like to let you know of the availability of a new healthy living programme provided by NHS Lothian and East Lothian Council called “Get Going”.

Get Going is a free family healthy lifestyle programme which supports children to work towards a healthy weight. It’s about working together as a family to make small lifestyle changes. Supported by a trained coach, you’ll learn more about eating well and being more active. Children will get the opportunity to take part in fun, active games, while parents share ideas and experiences

Get Going consists of eight sessions, taking place in enjoyleisure sports centres or community venues once a week. It starts with a one-to-one consultation with the family and a specially trained healthy lifestyle coach. This is followed by a series of interactive group sessions.

Each week a different topic is covered, from introducing a healthier eating plan, to discussions around physical activity and thinking about the amount of time spent watching television or playing on the computer.

To find out when the next courses are available in our area or for more information please contact:

We are delighted to announce that following a visit by a panel of judges we have been awarded Level 3 accreditation for Health Promoting Schools.

The panel met with staff, students and the Chair of our Parent Council and were impressed by everything they saw and heard. On the tour of the school they commented that this was not like other secondary schools they visited and could not quite believe the quality of display work around the corridors.

Thanks to the Health and Wellbeing Group (and Liz Nicoll in particular) for putting together the submission.

The reality of Scottish education is that we have hundreds of thousands of good pupils, taught by tens of thousands of excellent teachers within thousands of great schools.

The Scottish Education Awards give us the chance to recognise this and reward the best practice taking place right across the country.

Preston Lodge High School, as a finalist at this year’s awards, has demonstrated real commitment to supporting pupils to be ambitious and to strive to do better.”

Councillor Peter MacKenzie, East Lothian Council cabinet member for education and children’s services, said:

I am delighted that Preston Lodge High School has been nominated for this award.

Young people and staff have worked for several years on raising awareness of healthy living and have developed a range of innovative projects to do so, focusing not only on food and exercise, but also on the impact on environmental issues on health.

Their all-round approach has paid dividends for young people and staff, and the local community.”

The finalists have been chosen by a specially selected panel of judges.

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At the Award Ceremony on Friday 18th June — we didn’t win … however, we did come a very close second and came back with a cheque for £500 to take forward Health and Wellbeing. Not to mention being the ONLY Scottish secondary school nominated for this award.

Amie-Jayne Russell, Ashton Ritchie, Hollie Salmon, Mrs Nicol and Mrs. Robertson represented Preston Lodge and had a ball! It was a spectacular event, hosted by Jackie Bird and Romeo – with a singing performance from Daniel Johnston (X-Factor).

Thank you to all staff and students who made it possible for us to get through to the finals (with a special mention to Liz Nicoll who keeps the Health and Wellbeing Group motivated and on track).

We’re already planning our nomination for next year!

We have a visit from the panel to consider our application for Level 3 accreditation for Health Promoting Schools on Monday 28th June and are confident we will achieve this.

Our S2 pupils enjoyed a fantastic day of health and wellbeing activities in school on Tuesday 9th June. The day started with a motivational address from Don Ledingham, Director of Education and Children’s Services followed by a wake up session by our own Mr and Mrs Motivator (Mr Thomas and Mrs Pike). Pupils then participated in 5 sessions including:

Ø Aim … Fire – Archery

Ø And Relax … Meditation

Ø Pilates

Ø Belly Dancing

Ø Boogie in the Daytime – Dance Mats

Ø Fuel Food – Healthy Cooking

Ø Games for Fitness

Ø Herbal Medicine

Ø Keep to the Beat – Guitar Hero

Ø Kidd the Builder – Can you fix it – Problem Solving

Ø Mr McKay’s Martial Mayhem – Karate

Ø Spots, Skin and Sweat – Superdrug

Ø The Drugs don’t work – Drugs Advice

Ø You Booze, you lose – Alcohol Advice

A huge thanks to all staff who ran sessions and accompanied groups. We are also very grateful to Clare Demarco and her team from Superdrug, David Fenwick of the Integration Team, John Cowan of the Police, Audrey Cowan of ABEL, Val Minty, Juliet Mosson and Napier University for running sessions.

Young people are often hurt on the road because they can not be seen clearly by other traffic.

As we approach the shortest day of the year it is a time when we are reminded of the need to be seen when we are out walking and cycling. The short daylight hours mean that often people are travelling in poor light conditions, with heavy rain or mist or snow and are more vulnerable to vehicular traffic accidents.

The twilight hours – just before and just after the sun sets – are the most dangerous times of all, because drivers’ eyes are adjusting to the changing light.

Children are advised to stand out against the gloom by wearing bright or fluorescent clothes that show up best during the day, particularly in dull or misty weather.

However, fluorescent clothing does not work at night – reflective material works best and shows up in cars’ headlights.

Other travelling advice includes

Keep to well-lit routes and crossing roads at safe places, like zebra or pelican crossings

If there is no pavement available pedestrians should walk facing the on-coming traffic

Cyclists can help themselves to be seen by wearing fluorescent or reflective clothes.

Bikes must legally have a white light at the front, a red light at the back and a red reflector at the back, during the hours of darkness.

Flashing lights on bikes are now legal and do alert drivers to cyclists more easily.

Lights should be checked regularly to make sure they are in good working order and that the batteries are well charged.